Comments on: Should Decatur Encourage More Pervious Parking Lots?

By: NancyB

NancyB — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 18:16:33 +0000

Seems like that would depend on the goal. If you are concerned about groundwater recharge, the concrete pool is a negative. If you are concerned about runoff and flooding issues, the pool should be positive or neutral.

By: Scott

Scott — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 14:48:17 +0000

Basically yes. Our ordinance was most likely cut and pasted from some other municipality without consideration of soil conditions. But KC’s comment indicated that it’s finally being acknowledged and addressed by the Env Sustainability Board, so that’s good.

It’ll just be nice to have some reality-based regs that actually contribute environmentally in a meaningful way while scaling back on the lawn-glorification we have now. Not that I’m anti-lawn. Just that there’s other ways to shape and use your property that have comparable impacts, so they shouldn’t be outlawed or disincentivized arbitrarily.

By: Decatur Metro

Decatur Metro — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 14:33:10 +0000

So then shouldn’t grass and anything else on your property also be considered impermeable?

And don’t you worry. The monadnocks will be hearing from me!

By: decaturite16

decaturite16 — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 14:01:08 +0000

Apparently so, which — as the history museum at the courthouse informs us — is why DeKalb County grew cows instead of cotton, back when it grew things. Blame the monadnocks.

By: Gladys

Gladys — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 13:01:34 +0000

Can anyone explain (seriously) why a swimming pool is considered an impervious surface? I get it, if the pool is covered, but for an open pool this has always just confused me.